Winter Challenge

Winter Challenge

Front cover box art of game for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis
Developer(s) Ballistic
Publisher(s) Accolade
Designer(s) Jeff Sember, Mike Benna
Platform(s) Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, DOS
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Sports (Olympic)
Mode(s) Single-player, Multiplayer (up to 10 players)
Distribution Cartridge, 3.5" Floppy Disk

Winter Challenge is a video game that portrays seven winter sports that are competed in during the Winter Olympics. This game however was not endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, or any similar organization for any other country. It was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis and DOS.

Events

Modes

The game offers a Training mode where the player can participate in a single event as one player. Once completed, the player can go again, return to the main menu, or watch an instant replay of their performance.

The other mode is Tournament mode where the player can create and participate with up to ten players. If less than ten players are created, the computer provides the rest. Once the players are selected, the game shows an Opening Ceremonies clip and then takes the player to a tournament screen where they can see their icons for the seven events, as well as four buttons that shows their current standings, starts a new tournament, allows the entering of a password to return to an existing tournament, or return to the main menu.

Gameplay

Most of the games consisted of using the directional pad for steering, and the A, B, and C buttons for performing certain functions like shooting, running, braking, or pushing off, as you would for the ski jump. Button mashing was necessary at times for a couple of the events, but most were focused on timing and accuracy. The ski jump was scored by distance, and the biathlon was scored by time and shooting accuracy. All the other events were scored by time.

Reception

Computer Gaming World liked the game's graphics and the quick play, and recommended it to those interested in downhill skiing.[1]

References

  1. Masterson, Eric (February 1992). "The Icing on the Slope". Computer Gaming World. p. 59. Retrieved 24 November 2013.